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A certain series of events got me focused on how various blades affect touch play (especially short pushes).
I had been using my typical blade (Stiga Infinity (OFF rated all wood blade). When I switched rubber to JOOLA Rhyzer 48. I loved it for looping, hitting, and even blocking, but my forehand pushes were going too high and long. I simply accepted that the rubber is more bouncy and decided to focus my coaching sessions on my pushing technique to try to do a better job of pushing short serves back low and short. The lesson did help significantly but...
I switched my blade from the Infinity to the JOOLA Nobilis (using the same rubber) and noticed that my pushes were less bouncy and therefore easier to keep short and low. I was very surprised, because the Nobilis is comparatively faster and more powerful at everything else (looping, counter hit, block, etc..). Kind of the best best of both worlds compared to the Infinity. I’m a little curious as to the reason why? Maybe because the ZLC is close to the core and therefore not being engaged? Maybe the thick Hinoki outer plies have a non-linear dampening effect on soft pushes?
So the main question is: which OFF/OFF+ blades do you think are great for touch play? No one wants to give up points on bad pushes. For the sake of comparison let’s assume that a 47-48 degree ESN (or equivalent) rubber is being used.
I had been using my typical blade (Stiga Infinity (OFF rated all wood blade). When I switched rubber to JOOLA Rhyzer 48. I loved it for looping, hitting, and even blocking, but my forehand pushes were going too high and long. I simply accepted that the rubber is more bouncy and decided to focus my coaching sessions on my pushing technique to try to do a better job of pushing short serves back low and short. The lesson did help significantly but...
I switched my blade from the Infinity to the JOOLA Nobilis (using the same rubber) and noticed that my pushes were less bouncy and therefore easier to keep short and low. I was very surprised, because the Nobilis is comparatively faster and more powerful at everything else (looping, counter hit, block, etc..). Kind of the best best of both worlds compared to the Infinity. I’m a little curious as to the reason why? Maybe because the ZLC is close to the core and therefore not being engaged? Maybe the thick Hinoki outer plies have a non-linear dampening effect on soft pushes?
So the main question is: which OFF/OFF+ blades do you think are great for touch play? No one wants to give up points on bad pushes. For the sake of comparison let’s assume that a 47-48 degree ESN (or equivalent) rubber is being used.
